HALSTON

US, 2021, 5 X 45 minutes, 2021, Colour.

Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Dayan, David Pittu, Krysta Rodriguez, Gian Franco Rodriguez, Bill Pullman, Jason Kravitz, Mary Beth Pell, Rory Culkin, Kelly Bishop, Vera Famiga,  Sullivan Jones.

Directed by Daniel Minahan.

In 2019, there was a documentary on Halston, biography, a portrait, his impact in the fashion world, his downfall. Recommendation for those who have not seen either film, the documentary of this television series, is to watch the documentary first, an overall view of Halston, the person, his work, the drama of his life before looking at this dramatic interpretation, gauging the drama against the background of the more factual account.

This drama moves around in time, different emphases on Halston and his personality, his talent, his success, his business failures, the era of his highs, the era of his lows.

Attention is given to his family background, from the midwest, his emerging as a designer. The film does highlight his abilities, with fabric, cutting, the material draping, his designs and the range of his shows. For audiences interested in fashion, a great deal to look at. Particularly significant is the show at Versailles, his being pressurised by Eleanor Lambert, participating in the American show in Paris, snubbed by the French, acclaimed by the audience, the contribution by Halston’s close friend, Liza Minnelli (a strong performance and impersonation from Krysta Rodriguez).

Alston was preoccupied with his work, obsessed, working long hours, making demands on his associates, including a young designer, Joel Schumacher, who was later to become a significant Hollywood director. There were also the business difficulties, the dealings with David Mahoney (Bill Pullman) and Halston, sometimes arrogant, sometimes short-sighted, finding himself in financial positions, takeovers not to his liking. Ultimately, taken over by companies not interested in fashion, controlled by executives who did not understand fashion.

There was also Halston’s lifestyle, not so much emphasised in the documentary, his relationship with Ed who was to become a designer in the company, his prowling for partners and encountering Victor Hugo, would-be artist, a companion for many years, but ultimately tangled in disputes and financial deals. And, the link with Studio 54 and Steve Rubel.

Halston was not a likeable character, talented, obsessed, the series tracing his successful years and his being the victim of his own arrogance, his downfall.

1. Audience knowledge of Halston, his talent, fashion achievement, personal life?
2. The contrast between the documentary, the dramatising, personalities?
3. Ewan McGregor, his portrait of Halston? The supporting cast, being actual characters, especially Liza Minnelli?
4. Characters, drama, Halston and his relationship with his staffs, with the models, friendship with Liza Minnelli, Elsa Peretti and her jewellery, Eleanor Lambert and Versailles, David Mahoney and his wife?
5. Sexual orientation, the meeting with Ed in the bar, the relationship? Ed later working for him? On the prowl, the encounter with Victor Hugo, their time together, the attraction, the falling out, Studio 54, the financial confrontations?
6. His origins, ambitions, talent, his experience with fabrics, his eye, the cut and the draping of the material, Jackie Kennedy and the pillbox hat, women’s clothes and comfort, his working for Bergdorf-Goodman, the contracts, JC Penney?
7. The episode at Versailles, Eleanor Lambert and her insistence, relying on Liza Minnelli, the treatment by the French, the performance, the success and applause? Status of American fashion?
8. His personal life, relationships, tempestuous, his reliability, arrogance, expenses, the layout of his office, the luxury, the flowers, his extravagance? Alcohol and drugs and their toll?
9. The world of Studio 54, Steve Rubel, the guests, the behaviour, club, sexual? The arrest of Rubel? The issue of the design of the party, his being shunned?
10. Halston, business, David Mahoney, decisions, not considered, impetuous, regrets? Failure, the companies and their ignorance, overseers?
11. AIDS, his being silent about his having , AIDS San Francisco, his death?
12. His talent, overreaching himself, success, but also consequences?